How Long Does Adjustment Disorder Last?

Time of Adjustment Disorder With Anxiety and Depression 

As mentioned, there are numerous types and levels of adjustment disorder, which determine how long the disorder symptoms last. In an adjustment disorder with a depressed mood, a person may feel lonely and hopeless and experience intense depressive episodes. The severity of the opioids may only last a few days; however, symptoms can begin within three months of the event and last up to six months.  

You can also have adjustment disorders with:  

• Anxiousness or anxiety 

• Mixed anxiety and depression 
• Disturbance of conduct  
• Mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct  

What is adjustment disorder with anxiety? The same is for the disorder with anxiousness or anxiety. Symptoms do not pass six months after the stressful occurrence. Adjustment disorder is not a long-term mental illness, and it’s often compared to PTSD, but they are not the same. PTSD is a diagnosed mental illness, while adjustment disorder is a condition that can cause difficulty completing daily tasks for a temporary period.  

If you are wondering, “how long does adjustment disorder last,” then understand it’s not likely for it to last longer than six months. Adjustment disorder mixed with both anxiety and depression may result in a longer period in therapy, but the symptoms do tend to fade before the six months are finished.  

Causes & Signs of Adjustment Disorder  

Highly stressful or sad situations or events can provoke the disorder and send a person into an anxious or emotional spiral. For example, a death in the family, relationship issues or divorce, or moving houses or changing jobs. Children or teenagers may display behavioral changes due to the inability to stable emotions because of family fighting, school problems, or bullying.  

How adjustment disorder is diagnosed:  

• Sudden symptoms that do not correlate with a current condition 
• Sudden emotional and behavioral symptoms or impairment displayed within three months after the stressful event 
• Problems in school, work, or relationships  
• Depressive symptoms or moderate to severe anxiety symptoms  

Methods in practices like cognitive behavioral therapy will help people recover from these adverse symptoms and side effects. In addition, solution-focused brief therapy is recommended for those who want to focus on avoiding triggers or how to deal with a problem at the moment. If you or a loved one needs to speak to a licensed professional about a recent event, learn how to help someone with an adjustment disorder and overcome it today.